The Lakes Region Art Association Art Gallery\, located in th
e Tanger Outlets\, represents over 25 artists and photographers from the L
akes Region. On display and for sale are original works in oils\, watercol
ors\, pastels\, acrylics\, photography and more. Come by the LRAA Art Gall
ery to check out our monthly window displays and special event exhibits\,
observe our artist demonstrations\, and participate in our classes and wor
kshops. Open Friday\, Saturday and Sunday\, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.&nbsp\;

\n

The Lakes Region Art Association\, founded in 1940\, is a non-profit gr
oup providing education and support to local artists\, both amateur and pr
ofessional\, in the Lakes Region. For more information call (603) 998-0029
\, visit www.lakesregio
nartassociation.com\, or stop by the LRAA Art Gallery at the v\, Tilto
n\, NH.

New Hampshire Magazine is teaming up with New Engla
nd'\;s Tap House Grille of Hooksett to bring you a series of beer event
s featuring local NH breweries.

\n\n

Starting Monday\, May 16 (and th
en held on the third Monday of each month) you can meet that evening&rsquo
\;s featured brewer\, sample the beer (some of which will either be specia
l brews or exclusive to the Beer Club) and enjoy tasty bites made with the
specific beer pairings in mind.

\n\n

The Beer Club gatherings are by
reservation only. Tickets are $30 per person and include beer samples and
food pairings. Tickets can be purchased at nhbeerclub.com.

\n\n

Purchase a full year of
Beer Club event tickets for $240\, a discount of $120. Annual membership w
ill give folks a membership card that will grant them access to all Beer C
lub events in addition to $1 off their first pint for each visit to the Ta
p House.

\n\n

Beer Club events are from 6:30-9 p.m. with the brewer t
alk and sampling beginning at 7 p.m.

\n\n

Each event will spotlight o
ne local New Hampshire brewery. The inaugural Beer Club evening on Monday\
, May 16 will feature Able
Ebenezer Brewing Company of Merrimack.

\n\n

Brewery lin
eup:

\n\n

We'\;ll add more breweries to the mix as they confi
rm. Here'\;s who has signed up so far:

The Horseshoe Pond Toastmasters Club\, &quot\;where leaders
are made\,&quot\; meets every Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. at 2 Delta Drive in
Concord. Meetings are open to the public. Develop your communication and
leadership skills in a supportive environment. &nbsp\;Come see what Toastm
asters can do for you!

This is the inaugural exhibit of the Hood Museum'\;s exci
ting new Main Street Hanover space. The two photo series in the show\, &qu
ot\;The Matryoshka Dolls&quot\; and &quot\;The Square Roots\,&quot\; place
live human models in settings built around the repetitive patterns of fra
ctal geometry.

Hosted by local singer-songwriter Tom Bartlett\, these Coffe
ehouse Open Mic events are held on the first Saturday of every month from
October to June. (Note that December'\;s event is on the second Saturda
y due to a scheduling conflict.)

\n\n

You can sign up with Tom in adv
ance for this monthly acoustic folk music Coffeehouse Open Mic&nbsp\;by se
nding an&nbsp\;email to TomBartlettMusicInquiries@gmail.com. As always\, i
f there is still room\, you can also sign up at the event from 6-6:50 p.m.
The music starts at 7 p.m. The group welcomes listeners and always treats
beginners with the same respect given to seasoned performers. Non-partici
pants are encouraged to come to listen\, and everyone is encouraged to bri
ng a finger snack food to share during the break. Beverages\,&nbsp\;includ
ing beer and wine\, may be brought in for your consumption.

\n\n

The
Benz Center is a donation-dependent community center. They host these open
mics at their facility at no charge\, so the group will always pass a buc
ket for donations during the evening. 100%&nbsp\;of the donations will be
given to the Benz Center. No one performing\, or organizing\, the Coffeeho
use Nights receives any of the donated money collected.

New Hampshire'\;s tallest peak has inspired artists for h
undreds of years\, but\, until now\, there has never been a museum exhibit
dedicated to the art depicting the Mount Washington region. This show cha
nges that\, with a selection of pieces ranging from paintings by Winslow H
omer and Albert Bierstadt to illustrated guidebooks from the nineteenth ce
ntury.

\n\n

Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday\, Monday\, a
nd Wednesday to Friday\, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. There is a $5
special exhibition fee for non-members to attend this exhibition.

It'\;s never too early to start your holiday shopping. Th
is themed show is designed with just that in mind: Pieces are all sized at
11x14 or smaller and priced at $100 or less. As the organizers put it\, t
his art is &quot\;produced locally\, has zero calories\, zero fat\, zero c
arbs [and] is gluten free.&quot\; You can'\;t find a gift much better t
han that.

Energy conservation\, wealth opportunity\, LGBTQ rights\, gl
obal warming\, national security\, immigration\, animal rights\, voter sup
pression\, and privacy are some of the challenges facing us today. More th
an 140 artist members from the Boston Printmakers\, working in a variety o
f techniques and styles\, will tackle these issues in &quot\;2016\, A Stat
e of Mind.&quot\; Boston Printmakers\, a nonprofit organization founded in
1947\, supports innovation and excellence in printmaking.

\n\n

This
show will be on display from November 1 to December 10 and will feature an
opening reception on November 4 at 5 p.m. and a gallery talk on November
5 at 10 a.m.

\n\n

Gallery hours are Monday by appointment\, Tuesday t
o Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.\, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that the g
allery will be closed from November 21-26.

For this exhibition\, photographer Jay Goldsmith eschewed di
gital photography and inkjet printers in favor of black-and-white images h
and-printed in the darkroom. As the name suggests\, portraits of artists (
including the Seacoast'\;s Ken Fellows and Maureen Mills) form the focu
s of the show.

Local philanthropist Emma Blood French donated the first bui
lding to the school now known as the New Hampshire Institute of Art in 191
6. A century later\, this exhibition in the building bearing her name give
s viewers a glimpse of French'\;s life.

\n\n

Gallery hours are 8:3
0 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays.

A five-time summer artist-in-residence at Cornish'\;s Sai
nt-Gaudens National Historic Site\, the late Nowlan was commissioned to cr
eate a number of major figurative sculptures across the US and Europe in h
is nearly two-decade career. This exhibition explores his work.

Anheuser-Busch is bringing its Brewery Lights experience to
the Merrimack brewery for the first time this year. Guests who visit the b
rewery from November 17 through December 30 will be able to enjoy thousand
s of lights on brewery grounds\, plus many family-friendly activities\, be
er sampling\, food and more. To kick off the special Brewery Lights experi
ence\, there will be a tree lighting ceremony on November 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Merrimack brewery general manager Tom Jokerst and brewmaster Summer Anders
on will &ldquo\;flip the switch&rdquo\; to start the celebration with live
music by Morgan and Pete Acoustic Duo. The Clydesdale Hamlet will remain
open until 7 p.m. while The Biergarten and Gift Shop will stay open until
8 p.m.

\n\n

Brewery Lights guests can enjoy Holiday Happy Hours every
Thursday at The Biergarten. Additionally\, a famous Budweiser Clydesdale
will be available for photo opportunities on December 8 and December 15 fr
om 5 to 7 p.m. each night. The brewery will also host an Ugly Sweater Part
y with live music\, courtesy of the Project Mess Band\, on December 16 fro
m 6 to 10 p.m.

\n\n

Visitors are encouraged to bring a toy or food it
em donation\, which will benefit Toys for Tots and the New Hampshire Food
Bank.

\n\n

The Brewery Lights experience will be open from 11 a.m. to
8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The
brewery will be closed on Thanksgiving\, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The Brewery Lights experience is free\, and complimentary parking is avail
able for guests. &nbsp\;

Spanning over two miles\, the Gift of Lights features more t
han 60 holiday scenes and more than 400 light displays. The course winds a
round the outside of the track'\;s grandstands and includes a portion o
f the NHMS Road Course. It also includes a trip through the infield tunnel
with the famous Tunnel of Lights before rolling down VIP Street.

\n\n<
p>Note that the Gift of Lights will NOT be open on Sunday\, December 25 (C
hristmas Day).\n\n

Admission is $20 per car\, but attendees can save
$2 by donating three non-perishable items for the Loudon Food Pantry.

Bring family and friends up to the place that you love\, or
visit for the first time! One of the Center for Wildlife'\;s best event
s of the year\, this bazaar invites you to step through the doors of the c
enter'\;s magical shop in the forest. Participants can browse nature-in
spired gifts like wild-crafted hemlock wreaths\, organic jams\, wildlife h
oliday cards\, wildlife baby blankets\, Ambassador Series books\, herbal g
oodies from Lion'\;s Tooth Wellness\, and much more. Participants will
also get the chance to meet the center'\;s owl\, hawk\, falcon\, and ot
her ambassadors up-close\, tour their outdoor enclosures\, and support the
Center for Wildlife while doing their holiday shopping!

Horse-drawn sleigh rides are fun. Chocolate tastings are fun
. But the two combined? That'\;s unmissable. Bundle up in your Austrian
-style carriage and enjoy being chauffeured around Jackson Village\, where
local businesses such as Eagle Mountain House and the Wentworth wait arou
nd every corner to deliver chocolates to your sleigh.

With events all over the city all month long\, Portsmouth
9\;s annual holiday extravaganza offers something for every budget &mdash\
; including &quot\;free.&quot\; For free fun\, check out the competitors i
n the gingerbread house competition\, take in the tree lighting and illumi
nated holiday parade (12/3)\, or just do some window shopping at Portsmout
h'\;s varied and exciting downtown boutiques. If you
'\;ve got a bit of money to spend\, ticketed and paid events include th
e Puddle Dock ice skating rink\, holiday pops from the Portsmouth Symphony
Orchestra\, and the Ogunquit Playhouse production of &quot\;Beauty and th
e Beast&quot\; at the Music Hall.

Members of the downtown Manchester workforce will now have n
o excuse not to finish their Christmas shopping. With a stellar lineup of
artisans and crafters setting up shop in the middle of Brady Sullivan Plaz
a\, this market may be the easiest place in the state to pick up a thought
ful handmade gift while you'\;re on your lunch break.

\n\n

The mar
ket will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to
3 p.m. on Saturday\, December 10.

Jean&rsquo\;s Playhouse is proud to announce their community
holiday show\, &quot\;The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical\,&quot
\; this December. The Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the wo
rld &mdash\; so when they crash Sunday school and demand parts in the Chri
stmas pageant\, the whole town panics. There&rsquo\;s not supposed to be b
iting or cigar-smoking in Bethlehem\, and while these kids have never even
heard the Christmas story\, they definitely have rewrites! Soon\, everyon
e from the terrified pint-sized shepherds to the furious church ladies are
calling for reluctant director Grace Bradley to cancel the whole thing. I
t&rsquo\;s up to Bradley and the Reverend to help their community see the
Christmas story and the Herdman kids through new eyes in this buoyant musi
cal adaptation of the funny and touching holiday classic. Silent night? No
t a chance. But sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christma
s.

\n\n

&quot\;The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical&quot\; is
adapted from the beloved children&rsquo\;s book by Barbara Robinson. Perf
ormance times are Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday aft
ernoon at 3 p.m. Tickets are $25\, with $1 off per donated item of non-per
ishable food\, up to $5 (food drive will benefit the Lin-Wood and Plymouth
food pantries). Tickets are on sale now! This production is generously sp
onsored by Dead River Company.

Dickens'\; classic tale takes center stage in this Palace
Theatre tradition. Enjoy professional acting\, live orchestra accompanime
nt and a lively performance that even the Scrooge in your family is bound
to love.

Based on the Frank Capra film &quot\;It'\;s a Wonderful L
ife\,&quot\; this musical uses the beloved story of George Bailey to remin
d audiences of the goodness and love that the holidays are all about.

The Wolfeboro Festival of Trees is a charity benefit featuri
ng two levels of more than 65 uniquely decorated trees. Held at the Wright
Museum\, the event offers continuous live entertainment and free refreshm
ents. The Festival opens on the weekends of December 3-4 and 10-11 and on
Wednesday\, December 7.&nbsp\; Festival hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m
. on Saturdays\, from noon until 3 p.m. on Sundays\, and from 6 p.m. until
8 p.m. on Wednesday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children 8 and
under\, or $12 per family.

Vis
itors stroll from house to historic house\, greeted by costumed role playe
rs and performers who recreate the traditions of times past\, rediscoverin
g the joys of simpler times. Mrs. Shapiro prepares a Hanukah celebration h
er 1919 Russian Jewish kitchen. Mrs. Goodwin and her family and servants p
repare a Victorian Christmas. Father Christmas\, the night watchman\, &ldq
uo\;Mayor Frank Jones&rdquo\; and other role-players make their rounds alo
ng the dirt lanes\, and the Abbotts await news of their soldier fighting i
n Europe in the Second World War. Carolers\, chestnuts and holiday crafts
bring all the sounds\, scents and moments for family '\;stopfulness'
\; to this event that is a cherished New Hampshire tradition. &nbsp\;Compl
imentary refreshments and hot apple cider are offered at the Cider Shed. T
raditional hearth-cooking demonstrations\, crafts demonstrations\, and win
ter projects for kids provide interactive fun for multiple generations.

\n\n

Tickets are $25 for adults\, $12.50 for children\, or $60 for a fa
mily pack.

From December 3 to January 3\, enjoy an exhibit of watercolo
rs and oils by Hanover artist Marion Kummel. Marion is a graduate of the T
yler School of Fine Art and will be 90 during the show. The show is free t
o attend and will include more than 100 stunning paintings for sale.&nbsp\
;

The Alumni Band of the New&nbsp\;Hampshire National Guard wi
ll perform three free concerts in the Manchester area this December. The b
and is made up of former&nbsp\;armed&nbsp\;service members as well as othe
r members. The concert will&nbsp\;include marches\, broadway tunes\, patri
otic and Christmas&nbsp\;music as well as&nbsp\;other crowd-pleasing favor
ites. The charity partner for these concerts is Liberty House\, which prov
ides&nbsp\;supportive housing for veterans transitioning from homelessness
. Additional information is available on the&nbsp\;band'\;s website at
nhalumniband.org.

Peterborough Players kick off their first-ever winter season
with this uproarious play from David Sedaris. Based on the humorist'\;
s real-life stint working as a department store elf\, the show gives viewe
rs a peek behind the scenes of your local Santa photo op. Leave the kids b
ehind for this one\; Crumpet the Elf'\;s exploits are one of the few ho
liday tales with a PG-13 rating.

Will Ferrell'\;s holiday laugh-fest was transformed from
movie to Broadway musical in 2010\, and\, this year\, the kids of Peacock
Players bring it to the stage in Nashua. Bring your favorite kid (or kid a
t heart) to see the show\, and settle in for an evening of family-friendly
jokes and heartwarming tunes.

Popular local singer-songwriter&nbsp\;Tom Bartlett&nbsp\;wil
l be performing in&nbsp\;the Pub at The Corner House Inn in Center Sandwic
h on December 9. He will include some original songs along with some favor
ite cover songs. Music will start at 6:30 p.m. and run until 9:30 p.m. Com
e have dinner or a drink and join in the fun. As always\, it'\;ll be ex
citing&nbsp\;to see which one of the&nbsp\;guitars in his collection he wi
ll bring out to play for the night.

The SNHU Wind Ensemble\, conducted by Rick C
ook\, and the SNHU Orchestra\, conducted by Bill Drury\, are open to SNHU
music students as well as members of the greater Manchester community.

\n

Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Visit snhucalendar.snhu.edu for more informa
tion or contact the School of Arts &amp\; Sciences with any questions at (
603) 629-4626 or s.santerre@snhu.edu.

Art exhibit &quot\;The Whole Flock&quot\; represents work by
a group of&nbsp\;artists creating around a common theme: birds. Visitors
will view traditional hand-carved birds\, contemporary paintings\, illustr
ations\, and sculptures of birds from around the world. &nbsp\;If you love
birds\, you will love The Whole Flock!&nbsp\;

\n\n

Be sure to join t
he artists for an artist'\;s reception from 5 to 8 p.m. on the show'
\;s openinig day\, December 9.&nbsp\;

The Dana Center\, world-class performing arts on the campus
of Saint Anselm College\, is proud to present Eileen Ivers &amp\; Her Amaz
ing Celtic Band in &quot\;An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas&quot\; on Friday\
, December 9\, at 7:30 p.m.

\n\n

&quot\;She electrifies the crowd
with a dazzling show of virtuoso playing&quot\;- The Irish Times

\n

&quot\;The Jimi Hendrix of the violin&quot\;- The New York Times<
/em>

\n\n

Back by popular demand\, Eileen Ivers is acclaimed as one o
f the paramount innovators in the Celtic and world music genres. A true pi
oneer\, her work is so daringly imaginative and clearly virtuosic that it
alters the medium. As a multi-faceted and internationally honored genius o
n the violin\, Eileen Ivers has spent her sustained and highly praised car
eer re-inventing and re-invigorating Celtic music in all its forms. It has
been said that the task of respectfully exploring the traditions and prog
ression of the Celtic fiddle is quite literally on Eileen Ivers'\; shou
lders. The Washington Post states\, &quot\;She suggests the futur
e of the Celtic fiddle.&quot\; Grammy awarded and Emmy nominated\, this da
ughter of Irish immigrants has played with London Symphony Orchestra\, Bos
ton Pops\, Sting and Patti Smith\, was an original Musical Star of Riverda
nce\, a founding member of Cherish the Ladies\, nine-time All-Ireland Fidd
le Champion\, wrote for the &quot\;Gangs of New York&quot\; movie soundtra
ck and has performed for presidents and royalty worldwide. Eileen Ivers ha
s certainly established herself as the preeminent champion of the Irish fi
ddle in the world today.

\n\n

&quot\;An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas&q
uot\; recalls the roaring hearths and roars of laughter that are part and
parcel of Christmas in Irish families. Eileen Ivers and her amazing Celtic
band interweave age-old Wren Day songs\, beloved American carols\, and ev
en a jigging Bach with signature warmth\, and invite listeners in for a tu
neful\, soulful celebration capturing the true spirit of the season.

\n

Tickets for Eileen Ivers &amp\; Her Amazing Celtic Band can be purchase
d through the Dana Center&rsquo\;s box office online at anselm.edu/dana or by phone at (603) 641-7700. Com
e join the Dana Center to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures of the w
orld and at home\, with programming that respects your intelligence\, exci
tes your curiosity\, and thrills your senses!

In the spirit of the holiday season\, the St. Paul&rsquo\;s
School Ballet Company (SPSBC) will present&quot\;The Nutcracker:
Act II.&quot\; Performance times are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and
Sunday at 2 p.m. in Memorial Hall on the St. Paul&rsquo\;s School campus.

\n\n

This abridged version of &quot\;The Nutcracker&quot\; is free o
f charge and open to the public on a first-come\, first-served basis. Each
show will last approximately one hour\, and all ages&nbsp\;are welcome. T
he house will open thirty minutes before curtain.

\n\n

Although not r
equired for admission\, the SPSBC invites guests to bring toy donations fo
r holiday distribution to local children through Concord charitable organi
zations. Donated toys should not exceed $25 in value and should be unwrapp
ed.

Portsmouth Pro Musica will present two holiday concerts on t
he Seacoast during the second weekend of December.&nbsp\;Poulenc&rsquo\;s
&lsquo\;Gloria&rsquo\; will feature soprano Maria Ferrante\, the Portsmout
h Pro Musica chorus\, and accompaniment with organ and tympani.

\n\n

The first concert will be held on Friday\, December 9\, at 8 p.m. at St. M
ary&rsquo\;s Church in Dover. The second will be Sunday\, December 11\, at
3 p.m. at North Church in Portsmouth.

\n\n

Advance tickets for both
concerts are priced at $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors/stude
nts. Tickets will also be available at the door for $15 general admission
and $12 seniors/students. Advance tickets can be purchased at various busi
nesses around the Seacoast\, from chorus members\, and online at portsmouthpromusica.org.

Lots of towns will have tree-lighting celebrations this Dece
mber\, but Amherst makes the absolute most of theirs. Festivities begin Fr
iday night when the lights come on and continue all weekend with Santa bre
akfasts\, holiday craft demos\, concerts and even a wine cellar and art ga
llery open house at LaBelle Winery. Times and locations around Amherst var
y.

The Concert Choir of Keene State College will present &ldquo
\;Sing a New Song&rdquo\; on Friday\, December 9\, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alu
mni Recital Hall. &nbsp\;They will sing an opening song with two violins b
y Georg Philip Telemann and then be joined by the Chamber Singers on &ldqu
o\;Songs of Sorrow and Hope&rdquo\; by Stephen Feigenbaum\, commissioned b
y the Terezin Music Foundation. The concert will include other seasonal so
ngs as well. &nbsp\;

\n\n

Hailley Dufresne will perform as sssistant
conductor\, and Vladimir Okinokikh will perform as the ensemble'\;s col
laborative pianist. Tickets cost $5 for students and seniors and $10 for a
dults. Don'\;t miss this fantastic concert!

Celebrate the season with Holiday Pops!&nbsp\; Sing
along to all of your favorite carols and tunes with Symphony NH and the N
ew World Chorale\, and enjoy the spirit of the holidays.&nbsp\; This conce
rt appeals to audiences of all ages and is sure to fill you with holiday c
heer!

The Boire Dance Academy is proud to present Tchaikovsky&rsqu
o\;s &quot\;Nutcracker&quot\; at the Amato Center for the Performing Arts.
The show is directed and choreographed by Suzanne Boire.

\n\n

Clara
is played by Emily Guo and Kelsey Mercurio of Nashua\, Sugar Plum Fairy by
Taylor Grindle of Nashua\, Drosselmyer by professional actress Katherine
Proulx\, Nutcracker prince by professional dancer Karl Granoth.

\n\n

There is a party at the Siberaus&rsquo\; house\, and Clara&rsquo\;s favori
te uncle\, Drosselmyer\, is attending. He gives her a Nutcracker as a gift
. The party ends\, and Clara drifts off to sleep. She is awakened by rats
and mice and is saved by the Nutcracker and soldiers who have all come to
life. The Nutcracker then takes Clara on a journey to the Land of Sweets w
here she is met from representatives of different countries who dance and
bring her different treats. Come join this magical journey of dance for al
l ages!

\n\n

The Nutcracker cast\, which features more than 58 youngs
ters between the ages of 5 and 17 from southern New Hampshire and northern
Massachusetts\, have spent the past two months working together as a comp
any to create this lovely ballet performance.&nbsp\; The Nutcracker is a f
irst theater experience for some of the younger children.

\n\n

Ticket
s are $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Performance times are Saturday a
t 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

This classic holiday tale performed by Sole City Dance has b
ecome a regional favorite! Framed by Tchaikovsky&rsquo\;s legendary score\
, the soaring story of &quot\;The Nutcracker&quot\; captures the wonder an
d expectation of the night before Christmas when a mysterious gift sparks
an extraordinary journey.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Follow Clara as she embarks on
an adventure filled with colorful characters\, majestic scenery\, and brea
thtaking costumes.&nbsp\; You&rsquo\;ll find your heart dancing as Clara a
nd the Nutcracker Prince overcome obstacles on their way to the Land of Sw
eets.&nbsp\;

\n\n

From the captivating dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
to the iconic snow scene\, this delightful holiday classic continues to en
thrall audiences of all ages.&nbsp\; Whether you'\;re seeing it for the
first time or it'\;s an annual treat\, start your holiday season in gr
and style with the ones you love.

\n\n

Show times are as follows:

\n

\n

Saturday\, December 10 - 2 and 7 p.m.

\n

Sunday\, Dec
ember 11 - 2 p.m.

\n

Thursday\, December 15 - 7:30 p.m.

\n

Friday\, December 16 - 7:30 p.m.

\n

\n\n

Tickets can be purchas
ed from the Rochester Opera
House\, whose box office can be reached at (603) 335-1992.

\n\n

F
or more information on Sole City Dance\, visit their website\, call (603) 750-7777 or email info@solecitydan
ce.org.

\n\n

Sole City Dance provides a strong technical foundation i
n dance in a non-competitive\, non-judgmental environment\, for the encour
agement of artistic expression. Sole City Dance is a federally-designated
501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.

Celebrate Christmas at the 20th annual Lights on
the Hill festival. Activities happen in historic 19th-century buildings be
ginning at the corner of Route 27 (High Street) and South Road in Candia.
Walk the beautiful village campus lined with hundreds of luminaries or rid
e the shuttle bus around to each site. Admission is free\, but guests are
encouraged to help support those in need by donating a hat\, warm gloves\,
or socks.

\n\n

Toast a marshmallow or just warm your hand
s at the glowing campfire. Enjoy a light supper in the caf&eacute\; and to
p it off with a homemade dessert in the bakery. Children as well as adults
will delight in seeing live nativity animals at the &ldquo\;Bethlehem&rdq
uo\; stable. The Heritage Commission will greet you at the Smyth Building
(a National Historic Register building)\, where you can view cr&egrave\;ch
es from all over the world. The Christmas Store &mdash\; complete with elv
es on hand to help children purchase and wrap gifts for the family &mdash\
; is a delightful place to buy those inexpensive stocking stuffers. Young
adults will be drawn to the Coffeehouse to sip a cup of coffee while liste
ning to acoustical music selections.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Christmas
Shows have something for everyone &ndash\; come enjoy Nicole Murphy\, Con
cord Coachmen Chorus\, Granite State Cloggers\, music from Jesse Remington
High School and Moore School students\, and much more.&nbsp\; Children&rs
quo\;s activities across the picturesque village campus include cookie dec
orating\, craft making\, balloon sculpturing\, and more. For more informat
ion\, call (603) 483-0506 or visit candiacongregational.org or the Lights on the Hill Facebook page.&nbsp\;&nbsp\;&nbs
p\;&nbsp\;

Christmas with The Celts isn&rsquo\;t just a concert\; it is
a celebration of the holiday spirit\, people\, community and common conne
ctions. The high-stepping spirited musical selections will have audiences
clapping along from the first lively renditions of popular contemporary Ch
ristmas classics. The show presents the perfect combination of ancient Iri
sh carols\, contemporary Christmas standards\, spontaneous humor and thril
ling Irish dancing\, giving audiences a memorable Christmas experience.

A special event for Antrim'\;s Festival of Trees\, A Wint
er'\;s Eveningwill showcase the plethora of decorated
trees and seasonal decor&nbsp\;filling every room of the historic 3-story
James A. Tuttle Library lit by holiday lighting and candlelight only. The
evening'\;s musical entertainment will feature Andrew Cass and Michell
e Weber. The winners of Favorites in voting categories&nbsp\;will be annou
nced and ribbons awarded\, as well as this year'\;s recipient of the Gi
lded Tree award for the voter favorite&nbsp\;which best depicts the sprit
of the festival. Refreshments sweet and savory will fill the tables. The e
vening will conclude with the drawing of the Holiday Decor Raffle winner.
This is a free event\, though donations to the festival to help cover expe
nses will be accepted.

Learn how to crochet! Participants in this workshop will lea
ve with at least one snowflake and a starter kit to continue to practice a
nd make more. The instructor for this class is Becky Mattison\, and the $2
5 fee includes all materials. Preregister at artworks4us2@gmail.com or (60
3) 323-8041.

Have you ever wanted to throw on a Santa suit and spend an a
fternoon hopping from bar to bar with a mob of other Kris Kringles? No? We
ll\, whether you could have dreamt it up or not\, that unique opportunity
is yours with the Queen City'\;s iteration of SantaCon. Join your fello
w red-hatted partiers for a crawl through nightlife hotspots including Str
ange Brew Tavern and Thirsty Moose Taphouse. Plus\, take advantage of food
and drink specials for all those in costume.

This year\, the annual holiday concert from the Manchester C
horal Society turns its focus to the &quot\;music of the spheres.&quot\; P
erforming the Bradley Ellingboe masterwork &quot\;Star Song&quot\; in conj
unction with the MCS Chamber Orchestra and 2GMCS children'\;s chorus\,
the choir presents texts by Whitman\, Rilke and more that consider our rel
ationship with all things celestial.

\n\n

Performance times are Satur
day at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

\n\n

For even more holiday tunes\,
you can catch the group singing Christmas carols at the Currier on Decemb
er 3.

Winter sports in New Hampshire will really pick up speed aft
er the New Year\, but Loon Mountain is giving you a preview of the competi
tion season. In this youth meet from the USA Snowboard &amp\; Freeski Asso
ciation\, some of New England'\;s most promising talent will compete fo
r top honors.

Stock up on gifts for the nature lover in your life with thi
s NH Audubon shopping event. A number of local artisans will be onsite sel
ling their wares\, and you can peruse the used book sale and snack on prov
ided refreshments. Audubon members attending the event et an added perk &m
dash\; 20 percent off all purchases in the center'\;s nature store.

Northeastern Ballet Theatre\, New Hampshire'\;s premier b
allet company\, presents the classic holiday treat\, &quot\;The Nutcracker
.&quot\; Directed by former Boston Ballet prima ballerina\, Edra Toth\, th
is full-length production is not to be missed! Join Clara and her nutcrack
er as they venture into the Land of the Sweets.

\n\n

Tickets are $20
for adults\, $17.50 for seniors and students\, and $60 for a four-ticket f
amily pack.

Join us for a book signing event with Tomie dePaola\, the lo
cal artist and renowned children&rsquo\;s author. A wide selection of his
book titles will be available for purchase. Signed copies make treasured k
eepsakes and great holiday gifts!

Once again\, the Concord Coachmen are celebrating the most w
onderful holiday of them all as they sing at Candia'\;s annual Christma
s entertainment tradition\, &quot\;Lights on the Hill.&quot\; This free yu
letide variety show will feature singers\, dancers\, and all kinds of perf
ormers at the historic Candia Congregational Church on South Road. Afterwa
rds\, warm up with great refreshments in the church'\;s downstairs hall
. It'\;s a whole program of your favorite Christmas music done in that
unmistakable barbershop harmony style.

Kick off the holiday season by dancing at Queen City Ballroo
m'\;s annual Holiday Dance Party on Sunday\, December 11\, from 1 to 5
p.m.

\n\n

The semi-formal party will be held offsite at the Radisson
Hotel'\;s Armory Room\, and all dance levels (including beginners) are
welcome. Singles and couples are both invited to join. There will be dance
hosts for single ladies\, DJed music of all genres\, a showcase\, door pr
izes\, and a cash bar.

\n\n

Tickets are $26 per person if purchased b
y December 10 or $30 per person at the door. To purchase tickets\, visit t
he ballroom website'\;s payments page. For more information\, call (603) 622-1500 or ema
il karen@queencityballroomnh.com.

Celebrate the season with Holiday Pops!&nbsp\; Sing
along to all of your favorite carols and tunes with Symphony NH\, and enj
oy the spirit of the holidays.&nbsp\; This concert appeals to audiences of
all ages and is sure to fill you with holiday cheer!

The Keene State College Chamber Singers and String Ensemble
will present a benefit concert to support the Keene-Einbeck Partner City C
ommittee on December 11. The performance will feature J.S. Bach'\;s can
tata &quot\;Uns ist end Kind geboren&quot\; (A Child is Born) and Franz Sc
hubert'\;s &quot\;String Quartet No.14&quot\; (Death and the Maiden). 2
0% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the PCC to support future partner
ship efforts. For more about this event and for ticket pricing information
\, please contact the Redfern Arts Center Box office at (603) 358-2168 or
keene.edu/arts/redfern.
p>\n\n\nPhone: (603) 358-2168\n\n90 Wyman Way\nKeene\, NH\n03435\n\n
DTSTART:20161211T150000
DTEND:20161211T170000
LOCATION:Alumni Recital Hall
PRIORITY:
SUMMARY:KSC Chamber Singers and String Ensemble
URL:http://www.keene.edu/arts/redfern/events/1473879827980/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:16793_20@nhmagazine.com
DTSTAMP:20161209T131209Z
CATEGORIES:PERFORMING ARTS AND MUSIC
CONTACT:Paul
DESCRIPTION:

Come see the talented New Hampshire Gay Men'\;s Chorus (N
HGMC) in a town near you during their spectacular 19th annual holiday conc
ert series\, &quot\;Holiday Music to Warm the Heart.&quot\; The concert pr
ogram presents a blend of sweet\, sentimental\, and powerful harmonies in
celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah &mdash\; but also an assortment of f
un\, festive selections that you&rsquo\;d expect to hear during this festi
ve season.

\n\n

Tickets are $15 for students\, $18 for children and s
eniors\, and $20 for adults at the concerts in Nashua\, Concord\, and Manc
hester. At the Rochester concert\, tickets are FREE courtesy of the chorus
'\; corporate sponsor\, TD Bank. For complete concert info and to reser
ve tickets\, visit the NHGMC website\, nhg
mc.com. Tickets are also always available at the door.

\n\n

Don
39\;t miss these wonderful concerts\, great for the whole family!

\n\n<
p>Performance times and locations are as follows:\n\n

Nashua
: December 3\, 7:30 p.m.\; First Baptist Church of Nashua\, 121 M
anchester St.

Now in its 19th year\, NHGMC is a not-for-profit musical an
d community service organization that has been delivering beautiful music
to the people of New Hampshire since 1998. The Chorus\, in high demand all
over the state\, has received written commendations from New Hampshire go
vernors and the mayors of&nbsp\;many New Hampshire cities.

Award winning singer/storyteller Steve Blunt will join the G
riffin Free on December 13 for a very special holiday story time for infan
ts and toddlers. Bring the little ones and be prepared to sing along and h
ave fun. In addition\, another very special guest will be joining the grou
p before the story time ends\, and here&rsquo\;s a hint: be sure to bring
your cards and wish lists for Santa if you haven&rsquo\;t delivered them y
et! Ho\, ho\, ho!

The Seacoast'\;s young professional network is pairing th
eir holiday celebration this year with a bit of seasonal giving. An unwrap
ped toy valued at $10 or more is required for admission\, and attendees br
inging three or more toys will be entered to win a prize.

Our Qu&eacute\;b&eacute\;cois neig
hbors have a rich holiday music tradition\, and you can watch it come to l
ife in this performance from Revels North. A regional cast and chorus and
the Qu&eacute\;b&eacute\;cois trio Genticorum in
terpret &quot\;La Chasse-galerie\,&quot\; the folk tale of a band of explo
rers seeking to reunite with their sweethearts in time for the holidays.
p>\n\n

Performance times are 6 p.m. Thursday\, 7 p.m. Friday\, and 1 and
5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Don'\;t miss this gorgeous event\, whether you'\;re a
Fogelberg fan or not! Songs in tribute to Dan Fogelberg\, along with some
holiday favorites\, will make this a very uplifting event to get you in th
e holiday spirit. Held in the Castle on Charles\, an old Episcopal church
renovated for private events and entertainment\, this will be an intimate
concert and listening event with food and drink table service before the s
how and during intermission.

\n\n

Don Campbell is a consummate musici
an who'\;s been dubbed Maine'\;s best singer-songwriter. He won the
Grand Prize at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for his original music. And
\, with his talented trio\, he recreates the lyrics and music of his hero\
, Dan Fogelberg &mdash\; the multi-platinum-selling artist\, with hits suc
h as &quot\;Leader of the Band\,&quot\; &quot\;Longer\,&quot\; &quot\;Same
Old Lang Syne&quot\; and a large and diverse catalog of more than 20 albu
ms. Since Fogelberg'\;s passing in 2007\, he has remained a huge influe
nce on and musical hero of Don Campbell\, who released the double CD &quot
\;Kites to Fly: Celebrating the Music of Dan Fogelberg&quot\; and has rece
ntly been presenting live performances of this music. Campbell'\;s perf
ormances are endorsed by the Fogelberg Foundation.

New Hampshire'\;s own Grammy Award-winning guitarist Ed G
erhard will his Annual Christmas Guitar Concert on December 16 and 17 in P
ortsmouth. This popular event is in its 34th year.

\n\n

Tickets are $
28 in advance and $32 at the door and can be purchased at Celtic Crossing
in Portsmouth\, Exeter Music in Exeter\, and Craft Music in Dover. You can
also purchase tickets by phone at (603) 664-7200 or online at virtuerecor
ds.com.

\n\n

Head to the Unitarian Universalist Church for a special
evening with one of the country'\;s finest acoustic guitarists. Gerhard
will perform soulful arrangements of well-loved carols\, as well as his o
wn concert favorites. Fans of guitar music and Christmas music alike will
want to be a part of this memorable show.

\n\n

&quot\;These Christmas
concerts are more special to me every year\,&quot\; Gerhard says. &quot\;
The music\, the audience...the whole experience is profound for me. Sharin
g this experience with everyone is what being a musician is all about.&quo
t\;

\n\n

In the spirit of the season of giving\, a fod drive will be
held in conjunction with the concert. Bring a non-perishable food item to
benefit Seacoast Family Food Pantry and receive a $1 off coupon for any CD
at the CD tables. A portion of proceeds from the concert will benefit ACT
ONE\, the Artists'\; Collaborative Theatre of New England. Come see wh
at many consider to be the premier holiday event on the Seacoast.

Red River Theatres presents a holiday program featuring vint
age Christmas films plus Mary Pickford'\;s timeless 1922 melodrama &quo
t\;Tess of the Storm Country&quot\;. This screening will be accompanied by
live music by Jeff Rapsis.&nbsp\;

Thanks to this special promotion\, from the mountain'\;s
first day of the season until Christmas Eve\, all active US military and t
heir dependents and all retired US military personnel ski for free. If you
count a vet or a military family among your loved ones\, spread the word
about this noble and wallet-friendly arrangement.

Ballet Misha'\;s original production of &quot\;The Nutcra
cker&quot\; has been voted &quot\;The Best Art Event of the Year&quot\; fo
r three years in a row.&nbsp\; Ballet Misha&rsquo\;s engaging choreography
and professional caliber dance set to Tchaikovsky&rsquo\;s enchanting sco
re make this performance one you and your family won&rsquo\;t want to miss
!

\n\n

Head to the Dana Center on Saturday\, December 17\, at 7 p.m.
or Sunday\, December 18\, at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m.&nbsp\; to see the performan
ce that is now an annual holiday tradition for hundreds of families!&nbsp\
;

This four-mile road race along an enjoyable hilly course is
at 11 a.m.\, and day-of-race registration is available. There are long sle
eved T-shirts for those who register by November 25 and make a minimum don
ation of $25. Refreshments and a raffle will be available after the race.
All proceeds go to the Bishop Brady Habitat Trip to West Virginia. The rac
e is named in recognition of Perry Seagroves'\; 64th birthday\, so ther
e will be cake!

\n\n

Contact sseagroves@bishopbrady.edu for more info
rmation\, and register online here.&nbsp\;

Just before the shortest day of the year\, this new event fr
om Prescott Farm is a reminder that\, come winter solstice\, we'\;re ba
ck on the upswing toward long hours of summer sun. The festival will celeb
rate the light'\;s return with a bonfire\, a lantern parade and contest
s for visitors who bring their own homemade lanterns

The Horszowski Trio will celebrate with Electric Earth Conce
rts as they bring their 5th season to a close. A $75 donation (minimum) to
help Electric Earth meet their end-of-year goals will give you a seat at&
nbsp\;an intimate musical gathering with this wonderful group\, followed b
y a holiday reception and conversation with musicians and EEC fellow-trave
lers. &nbsp\;The program includes Dvorak'\;s Piano Trio No. 4\, Op. 90\
, &quot\;Dumky\,&quot\; and Arthur Foote'\;s Piano Trio No. 2\, Op. 65.

Procrastinators\, this one'\;s for you! The last event of
the year from Joyce'\;s Craft Shows\, this fair carries both stocking-
friendly small gifts and larger items including quilts\, gourmet food and
holiday floral arrangements. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals\, bo
ldly vulnerable songwriting\, personal life triumphs\, and a firm commitme
nt to social activism. The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for
her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk stan
dards and her own poetically poignant original compositions.

\n\n

Jud
y is a modern day Renaissance woman who is also an accomplished painter\,
filmmaker\, record label head\, and musical mentor\, and an in-demand keyn
ote speaker for mental health and suicide prevention. She continues to cre
ate music of hope and healing that lights up the world and speaks to the h
eart.

\n\n

The Flying Monkey is honored to bring back Judy for an eve
ning of folk songs\, fan favorites\, and a few holiday selections! Don&rsq
uo\;t miss this wonderful show in this intimate theater.

Audience admission to this performance is free\, so for musi
c lovers who prefer listening to participating\, this is a great way to ca
tch a holiday favorite without making a dent in your holiday-season wallet
. For performers\, though\, a $10 fee will earn you an even better perk &m
dash\; a spot in the show. This concert is &quot\;the more\, the merrier&q
uot\; style\, so singers and musicians are welcome to join the communal ch
oir and orchestra for a low-cost\, no-strings night of bringing Handel'
\;s &quot\;Messiah&quot\; to life.

There'\;s no shortage of holiday pops concerts around the
state this month\, but our favorite is this two-night engagement from the
Seacoast'\;s local symphony. Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra'\;s annu
al spectacle is assisted this year by musical guests Taylor O'\;Donnell
and Chris Klaxton.

As you gear up to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah\, check ou
t this show to learn all about the traditions of December'\;s nondenomi
national holiday. Master storyteller Diane Edgecombe and her musicians wea
ve existing legends and stories with traditional songs and original tunes
to create a compelling picture of the year'\;s darkest day.

The Maccabeats&nbsp\;are coming to New Hampshire! This Chanu
kah\, take in an exciting concert and magic show by&nbsp\;Jay Mattioli&nbs
p\;to celebrate the festival of lights right here in Manchester.

\n\n

Who are the Maccabeats? Often traveling with little more than the shirts
on their backs and the ties on their necks\, the Maccabeats have entertain
ed and inspired hundreds of audiences worldwide\, from Alabama to (New) Ze
aland and everywhere in between. Using nothing more than the unadulterated
human voice\, a clean-cut presentation\, and a little Jewish humor\, this
unique group of singers is able to connect with fans of all backgrounds a
nd ages.

From December 26-30\, 2016\, Pontine Theatre presents a host
of New Vaudeville performers at its Seventh Annual ZEST FEST New Vaudevil
le Festival. Each show features a different exciting performer. Performanc
es are offered at 2 p.m. at Portsmouth'\;s Strawbery Banke Museum. ZEST
FEST features family-friendly shows sure to delight audiences of all ages
with magic\, mirth and mayhem. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased onlin
e at pontine.org.

\n\n

On December 26 and 27\, performances feature M
ichael Trautman and his original production\, &quot\;King Pong.&quot\; Dec
ember 28 and 29 see performances of&nbsp\;John Higby'\;s &quot\;The YoY
o Show\,&quot\; and Leland Faulkner closes the festival with his &quot\;Wo
rld of Wonders&quot\; on December 30.

Playing over 4\,000 shows and over 400 corporate events in o
ver 15 countries\, the group has also done guest appearances on &ldquo\;Ca
rson Daly\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;The Today Show\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;China&rsquo\;
s Got Talent&rdquo\; and the Latin Grammy Awards. After being featured on
the cover of &ldquo\;USA Today&rdquo\; and being voted National Act of the
Year a record-breaking six times\, the band gained world-wide recognition
. Currently\, they are back home in New Hampshire for a series of shows be
fore returning to their long-running show on the Vegas strip.

Packed full of surprises and crowd favorites\, Recycled Percussion brings an incredible turbo-charged performance. Be part of a one-o
f-a-kind show and relive the journey of the local boys that took their buc
ket banging high school act all the way to the entertainment capital of th
e world\, Las Vegas! A Recycled Percussion show always rocks!

Legendary New Hampshire drumming group Recycled Percussion i
s back in the Granite State on Thursday\, December 29\, to celebrate and r
ock the Colonial Theatre in Keene in shows at 4 and 7 p.m.

\n\n

You m
ay have seen them way back in the day at Goffstown High School at their fi
rst show in March of 1995\, or you may have caught them rocking your high
school or local theatre. Perhaps you'\;ve seen them impress the judges
on &quot\;America'\;s Got Talent&quot\; or even watched them perform in
Las Vegas (where they are about to open a new show at Planet Hollywood).
Or maybe &mdash\; just maybe &mdash\; you are one of the few that have not
seen this amazing show. Whether it'\;s your first time or your tenth\,
though\, a Recycled Percussion show always rocks!

\n\n

Don'\;t mi
ss these turbo-charged performances packed full of surprises and crowd fav
orites. Be part of a one of a kind show and relive the journey of the loca
l boys that took their bucket-banging high school act all the way to the e
ntertainment capital of the world.

It&rsquo\;s been 67 years since ski-film pioneer Warren Mill
er picked up a camera to capture the wonder\, the adventure\, the humor an
d the beauty that is skiing. Since that time\, Warren Miller film crews ha
ve traveled the globe &mdash\; from storied slopes to hidden\, snow-covere
d corners &mdash\; to celebrate all things snow sports. Their quest has ta
ken powder-hungry filmgoers\, well\, &quot\;Here\, There &amp\; Everywhere
&quot\; &mdash\;and this year continues that legacy.

\n\n

Take a free
ski adventure with industry veterans Ingrid Backstrom and Wendy Fisher in
Crested Butte\, tour eastern Greenland by dog sled with Seth Wescott and R
ob Kingwill\, and follow Jess McMillan and Grete Eliassen on a Swiss holid
ay aboard the Glacier Express. Explore the backcountry of western Montana&
rsquo\;s Glacier Country with Tyler Ceccanti\, Collin Collins and Keith Cu
rtis and catch a powder day with Kaylin Richardson\, Matt Elliott\, Marcus
Caston and the Kicking Horse ski patrol in British Columbia.

\n\n

Tr
avel along as Warren Miller Entertainment commemorates Stein Eriksen in De
er Valley\, captures the big air at Boston&rsquo\;s Fenway Park (yes\, tha
t Fenway Park!) and rides the steeps of Squaw Valley to the big lines of C
ordova\, Alaska\, plus much more. This year\, don&rsquo\;t miss original s
ki bum and filmmaker Warren Miller himself in on-screen interviews as he s
pins tales of the past as only Warren can do\, reminding us that through t
he years\, these films have truly taken audiences &quot\;Here\, There &amp
\; Everywhere.&quot\;

\n\n

Tickets are $15\, and Playhouse screenings
will be held at 4 and 7 p.m.

NH'\;s own Recycled Percussion is at the Palace Theatre f
or six shows.

\n\n

Don'\;t miss this show packed full of surprises
and crowd favorites in an incredible turbo-charged performance. Be part o
f a one of a kind show and relive the journey of the local boys that took
their bucket banging high school act all the way to the entertainment capi
tal of the world\, Las Vegas!

Ring in the new year with one of the Flying Monkey'\;s al
l-time favorite performers: the Adam Ezra Group. The show starts at 8:30 p
.m. in 2016 and ends in 2017. Ezra always challenges our perspective\, oft
en teetering between sensitive poet and ballsy rocker.&nbsp\;Having toured
with Rusted Root\, The Avett Brothers\, Jason Mraz\, The Goo Goo Dolls\,
Blues Traveler\, Los Lobos\, Toad the Wet Sprocket\, Dwight Yoakam\, and m
any more\, the Adam Ezra Group has graduated from the local Boston scene t
o the national stage with a momentum that is catapulting them towards bein
g one of the country'\;s most talked about bands. Each time Adam and hi
s smokin'\; band come to the Flying Monkey\, they raise the roof. Start
your year right with great live music!&nbsp\;

Don'\;t miss the 8th Annual Live Free or Die Laughing New
Years Eve Comedy Event. This year'\;s performers include Mike Koutrobi
s\, Steve Scarfo\, Carolyn Plummer and other special guests.

\n\n

For
the eighth year in a row\, Live Free or Die Laughing comics wil provide a
mazing night of stand-up comedy to ring in the new year. This year\, the g
roup returns to a two-show format\, with an early show at 8:30 who plan to
attend First Night festivities in downtown Portsmouth and a 10:30 show fo
r those who want to literally laugh in the new year.

For the grandest New Year'\;s party in the state\, you ne
ed a grand hotel. Attendees of this swanky celebration will be handed cham
pagne before they even walk in the door\, will feast on a four-course gour
met dinner\, and can take advantage of an open bar and classic casino game
s all night long. Good riddance\, 2016!

Kids get their own chance to watch the clock strike &quot\;m
idnight&quot\; at this family-friendly fete. The museum sets up a glitter
ball and counts down to its drop three times throughout the day\, so you a
nd your little ones can ring in 2017 without staying up late or suffering
through Carson Daly'\;s TV hosting.

This session will equip participants with information about
Friends Youth Mentoring and introduce them to some best practices. This op
portunity is for those who are considering stepping up and stepping in to
help a needy child\, as well as for those who are already on the path to b
ecoming a youth mentor.

The group'\;s signature performances set the beat on disc
arded industrial junk\, power tools and a barrage of buckets and metal can
s. That style\, together with daring showmanship and acrobatics on tall la
dders\, breakdancing\, spectacular spark showers in the background\, and c
rowd participation\, creates nothing short of on-stage magic! Tickets sell
out in advance every year\, so don&rsquo\;t miss your chance to witness R
ecycled Percussion'\;s triumphant return to New Hampshire. And if you
39\;re in the 1% that hasn'\;t seen them\, what are you waiting for?!
p>\n\n

Tickets start at $29.50 in advance or $32.50 on show day. Perform
ances are January 6 at 7:30 p.m. and January 7 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.

From the author of &quot\;The Gift of an Ordinary Day&quot\;
and &quot\;Magical Journey comes &quot\;Moments of Seeing: Reflections fr
om an Ordinary Life.&quot\;

\n\n

In this long-awaited new collection
of essays from her popular blog\, Katrina Kenisongives v
oice to the simple joys and private longings of women everywhere. Here are
the deeply felt and beautifully articulated moments of life as it is real
ly lived -- family dinners\, the poignant arrivals and departures of growi
ng children\, the triumphs and tumult of parenting\, the ups and downs of
friendship\, the challenges of marriage\, the delicate balance between sol
itude and intimacy\, the fleeting beauty of the seasons\, the death of lov
ed ones\, and the march of time.

For their January meeting\, Gibson'\;s Book Club reads &q
uot\;Nobody'\;s Fool&quot\; by Richard Russo.

\n\n

This book club
is free and open to the public\, and newcomers are encouraged! Join for ev
ery month\, or deal yourself in as the spirit moves you.

\n\n

Most of
these titles are in paperback (or should be by the time the club reads th
em)\, and they will all be discounted 25% from the publisher'\;s price
for the following year\, whether you join for book club meetings or not.
p>\n\n

Unless otherwise noted\, meetings are held on the first Monday of
the month at 7 p.m. Parking is free in the Capitol Commons garage and on
the street after 5 p.m.

Do you have a sibling with autism? Are you looking for tips
and ideas on how to better understand your sibling? Are you a parent looki
ng for ideas to help your whole family cope with the challenges of autism?

\n\n

Come to our Autism Q&A session at The Birchtree Center to explo
re ways to better understand autism and how to develop meaningful sibling
relationships. We’ll start with a brief ten-minute presentation on the top
ic\, followed by questions and discussion.

\n\n

This session is open
to parents\, guardians\, and caregivers AND to siblings age 10 and up.

The Colonial Theatre is proud to welcome Leo Kottke and Kell
er Williams on Saturday\, January 14.

\n\n

Kottke is known for a fing
erpicking style that draws on blues\, jazz\, and folk music\, and for sync
opated\, polyphonic melodies. He overcame a series of personal obstacles\,
including partial loss of hearing and a nearly career-ending bout with te
ndon damage in his right hand to emerge as a widely recognized master of h
is instrument.

\n\n

Since he first appeared on the scene in the early
'\;90s\, Williams has defined the term &quot\;independent artist.&quot
\; And his recordings tell only half the story. Keller built his reputatio
n initally on his engaging live performances\, no two of which are ever al
ike. For most of his career\, he has performed solo. His stage shows are r
ooted around singing and playing guitar on original compositions and choic
e cover songs.

\n\n

This very special evening of music will feature a
solo set by each artist and some spontaneous collaborations between Willi
ams and Kottke.

Beatles for Sale is a five-member New England-based Beatles
tribute band from Massachusetts that is committed to recreating the sounds
of the Beatles live in concert. They are past recipients of the &quot\;Be
st Tribute Band in New England&quot\; award by Limelight Magazine
.

\n\n

This band delivers a fun and energetic performance complete wi
th original instrumentation and vocal harmonies that are as accurate as po
ssible to the original Beatles recordings. There are no offstage performer
s or pre-recorded tracks &mdash\; everything is performed completely live.

Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac\, which has
featured the talents of Mick Fleetwood\, Christine and John McVie\, Lindse
y Buckingham\, Stevie Nicks and others over the years. The five seasoned\,
well-respected musicians comprising Tusk have been making music together
in various combinations and styles\, in original outfits and in cover band
s\, for over twenty-five years. It seemed only fitting that they should co
me together to form the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute\, and pay homage to
a group that dominated the charts during the band members&rsquo\; formati
ve years. Authentic-sounding and always respectful\, Tusk leaves no stone
unturned in replicating the sounds of one of the world&rsquo\;s best-loved
\, top-selling bands.

World Snow Day is the second phase of the '\;Bring Childr
en to the Snow'\; campaign. World Snow Day looks beyond the FIS members
hip to the wider snow sports community. It seeks to motivate children aged
from 4-14 by encouraging all stakeholders to celebrate all things snow ar
ound the world simultaneously. In short\, World Snow Day is the biggest da
y on snow all year. And World Snow Day is not a one-off event but is plann
ed to be staged annually for years to come. Participants can get half off
the price of their lift passes.

Tradition and innovation provide the interlocking roots of b
luegrass and its descendants\, a lively dance of elements skipping comfort
ably from ancient jigs to radio ditties to spacious experimentation. The I
nfamous Stringdusters joyously embody and carry forward the spirit of the
originators in their skilled embrace of this music&rsquo\;s twin gravitati
onal pulls\, moving swiftly between homespun legacy and creative expansion
.

Family yoga is a wonderful opportunity for parents and kids
to practice together! This workshop is a great way to combine physical exe
rcise\, partner poses\, kid-approved yoga poses\, breath work\, and relaxa
tion\, mixed in with a healthy dose of family togetherness.

\n\n

Acco
mmodations and variations will be offered to make sure that everyone has f
un. Join us for a playful way to spend quality time with your family.

\n

Ages 4 to 8 are welcome from 1:30 to 3 p.m.\, and ages 9 to 13 are we
lcome from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $20 per 1 adult and 1 child couple.
Sign up before January 14 and pay just $15.

Decades Rewind is a&nbsp\;new theatrical music jo
urney\, unlike anything you'\;ve seen or heard before\, rewinding throu
gh 30 years of the greatest music of our times! Get ready to have your mem
ories brought to life by&nbsp\;an eight-piece band and six brilliant vocal
ists\; surrounded by concert stage lighting\, poignant videography of Amer
ican culture\, and more than 100 period specific costumes from the 60'\
;s\, 70'\;s and 80'\;s. Decades&nbsp\;Rewind&nbsp\;will have you sin
ging and dancing in your seats on a magical musical extravaganza you won&r
squo\;t ever forget. &nbsp\;

A moving Pulitzer-Prize winning comedy\, &quot\;Driving Miss
Daisy&quot\; is the story of the relationship between a strong-willed\, w
ell-to-do Jewish woman and her black chauffeur over 25 years in post-war A
tlanta. The relationship starts out rocky but blossoms as the two become e
ach other&rsquo\;s closest friends and confidantes.&nbsp\;

\n\n

This
production stars Odell Curetan and Katie Miller and is suitable for all ag
es. Performance times are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.\, Fridays &amp\; Saturday
s at 8 p.m.\, and Saturdays &amp\; Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets can be found
online at seacoastrep.org/ti
ckets.

\n\n

Show sponsors for this production are Johnson &am
p\; Johnson\, RiverWoods\, and the Bank of New Hampshire. Season sponsors
are MacEdge\, Bondgarden Farm\, and PPMtv.

Join the Southern NH Ukulele Group (SN
HUG) for their fifth consecutive Groundhog Day Luau\, held on January 28 i
n Portsmouth.

\n\n

The Luau has a two-fold purpose: Celebrate the gro
wing popularity of the wonderful ukulele and raise funds for the Ukulele K
ids Club (UKC)\, a not-for-profit organization that provides ukuleles for
music therapy programs in hundreds of hospitals around the country\, inclu
ding NH hospitals Wentworth-Douglass in Dover\, Elliot in Manchester\, and
Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon. The UKC has gifted more that 2\,500 ukule
les to kids in hospital since its founding in 2014. Since that time\, SNHU
G has raised $10\,000 on behalf of the UKC.

\n\n

The Luau will featur
e performances by regional ukulele groups such as SNHUG\, The Ukulele Stru
mmers of Maine\, and the Flukes (Falmouth Library Ukulele Ensemble). Solo
performers include Andrea Szirbik\, MB Padfield\, and Steve Roy. There wil
l also be a special performance by Stratham'\;s Cornerstone School and
the Hawai&rsquo\;i NEI Boston Hula Group.

\n\n

Tickets to the Luau ar
e $30 per person and can be purchased online here. The event lasts from 6 to 10 p.m.\, and a c
ash bar and food service will be available. A special hotel room rate will
be offered for this event at the Best Western Plus Hotel and Suites.

\n

For additional information\, contact Johnny Hartnett of the Southern
New Hampshire Ukulele Group by email at john@johnhartnett.com or by phone
at (603) 714-3060\, or visit face
book.com/SNHUG.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of NH (NOFA-NH) 20
17 Winter Conference is the premier gathering of New Hampshire'\;s orga
nic and sustainable food and agriculture community &mdash\; farmers\, gard
eners\, locavores\, educators and consumers &mdash\; joining together all
under one roof. The conference offers a wide variety of workshops\, the Gr
een Market Fair\, and a delicious organic and local lunch.

\n\n

This
year'\;s conference culminates with an inspiring evening keynote event
with Joel Salatin\, the renowned author and self-labeled &quot\;lunatic fa
rmer.&quot\; (Tickets to the evening keynote event can be purchased separa
tely from the full-day conference.) Pre-registration is encouraged\, and a
n early bird discount will be available prior to December 1. Register onli
ne at nofanh.org/winterco
nference.

This session will equip participants with information about
Friends Youth Mentoring and introduce them to some best practices. This op
portunity is for those who are considering stepping up and stepping in to
help a needy child\, as well as for those who are already on the path to b
ecoming a youth mentor.

Don'\;t miss CASA of New Hampshire&rsquo\;s 17th annual S
nowfest at Loon Mountain. Snowfest is one of CASA of NH&rsquo\;s largest a
nnual fundraisers to benefit our state'\;s neglected and abused childre
n.

\n\n

Join CASA on February 3 at Loon Mountain in Lincoln for a day
of fun! Loon will close the Blue Ox trail to design a custom snow-golf co
urse for anyone who wants to play nine holes of golf on skis or snowboard.
If golf isn&rsquo\;t up your alley\, take advantage of a day of skiing\,
riding and more across Loon&rsquo\;s entire resort. As is tradition\, part
icipants can start their day with a continental breakfast\, enjoy a Common
Man Restaurants lunch buffet and cap off the event at an apres ski party
in Babe&rsquo\;s Lounge\, complete with raffles and live auctions.

\n\n

Tickets include breakfast\, lunch and a full-day lift ticket as well as
access to the golf course and a great swag bag\, and are $105 for individ
uals or $400 for a foursome. There is also a special rate of $50 for seaso
n pass holders (no lift ticket).

Starring Craig A. Meyer as Almost Elton John and featuring m
usic by The Rocket Band\, this spectacular musical journey celebrates the
decades of chart-topping hits of Sir Elton John\, including &quot\;Benny a
nd the Jets\,&quot\; &quot\;Philadelphia Freedom\,&quot\; and &quot\;Croco
dile Rock.&quot\; Award-winning actor/singer Meyer usees his remarkable re
semblance and uncanny ability to sound like the legendary star to celebrat
e the character\, costumes and charisma of the famed pianiest and singer.<
/p>\n\n

Barry Manilow says of the performer\, &quot\;Craig A. Meyer is o
ne of the most talented people I have ever worked with. He can do anything
!&quot\;

\n\n

Support for the 2016-2017 season is provided in par
t by Savings Bank of Walpole.

Straight from D.C. the comic troupe of former congressional-
staffers-turned-comedians return to Portsmouth for a 19th annual concert s
upporting the affordable housing development efforts of the Housing Partne
rship. No matter who&rsquo\;s in the headlines\, The Capitol Steps are equ
al-opportunity offenders promising an evening full of bipartisan lampoonin
g.

\n\n

The Capitol Steps have been a Washington\, DC\, institution f
or over thirty years\, providing a unique blend of musical and political c
omedy to our nation'\;s capital and more. Each show consists of tastefu
l lampooning guaranteed to leave both sides of the political spectrum.

Each February\, the Gibson'\;s Bookstore book club not on
ly discusses but\, in the interest of improving understanding\, reads alou
d a play by the immortal Bard. This year\, the club will focus on &quot\;T
he Tempest.&quot\; The fun performance skips the exposition to save time\,
and participants all take turns reading the best lines and scenes so no o
ne feels left out.

\n\n

Gibson'\;s book club is open to all and pr
omises an eclectic\, ambitious list of books for the coming year. Join for
every meeting\, or deal yourself in as the spirit moves you!

Leon Russell'\;s long and storied career includes collabo
rations with a virtual who'\;s who of music icons\, spanning from Jerry
Lee Lewis to Phil Spector to the Rolling Stones. A similar eclecticism an
d scope also surfaced in his solo work\, which couched his charmingly grav
elly voice in a rustic yet rich swamp pop fusion of country\, blues\, and
gospel. Russell has won two Grammy awards\, produced chart-topping hits an
d was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011. Don&rsquo\;t miss
this intimate show with a music legend.

In this class we will work in pairs while flowing\, encourag
ing and assisting each other in postures. Working in pairs allows us to en
courage and support each other into a deeper experience of the poses. The
power of touch also helps us to warm and open the heart through the beauti
ful connection with one another. This practice will be playful\, fun and e
ncouraging to any level of practitioner. Grab a friend and join us!
em> &nbsp\;

\n\n

Partners are required\, but please be sure to si
gn up individually for this workshop - both partners must be registered. I
f you wish to attend\, don&rsquo\;t have a partner\, but are willing to be
paired up with another student on the day\, please let us know by emailin
g Mail@YogaBalance.info and we
will try our best to accommodate you.

Get ready to experience the next generation of Irish music a
nd dance! The most talented musicians&nbsp\;and singers\, along with some
of the world&rsquo\;s best Irish dancers\, come together on one stage to p
rovide&nbsp\;a truly unique experience. Never before have classic Irish tu
nes such as &ldquo\;Fields of Athenry&rdquo\; and &ldquo\;A&nbsp\;Nation O
nce Again&rdquo\; been rearranged in a rock-music style and performed in s
uch a fresh\, upbeat way.

\n\n

Support for the 2016-2017 season provi
ded in part by Clark-Mortenson Insurance (lead show sponsor) and Northeast
Delta Dental.

The NH Farm &amp\; Forest Expo\, New Hampshire'\;s greate
st winter fair\, will be held at the Radisson in Manchester on February 17
and 18. The fair runs from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4
p.m. on Saturday. Admission is $7\, and kids ages 16 and under are admitte
d free.

Join Opera NH for this grand opera performance. On an evenin
g in Paris\, a party is being given at the house of the city&rsquo\;s most
beautiful and adored courtesan\, Violetta Val&eacute\;ry. She greets her
guests\, among them Flora Bervoix\, the Marquis D&rsquo\;Obigny\, Baron Do
uphol and Doctor Grenvil. Gastone introduces Alfredo Germont to Violetta\,
and the young man tells Violetta that he admires her and thinks of her co
nstantly. Gastone proposes a toast\, and Alfredo responds with a drinking
song. When the guests move into the ballroom to dance\, Violetta feels ind
isposed and begs her guests to go on without her. Alfredo remains behind a
nd declares how much he loves her. She tells him she can only offer friend
ship. She gives him a flower\, asking him to return when it has faded. Alo
ne\, she thinks about Alfredo\, but resolves to enjoy herself and her whir
lwind lifestyle.

Victor Lemonte Wooten is a unique human being. Born the youn
gest of five boys\, he began learning to play music at the tender age of t
wo. He started performing in nightclubs and theaters as the bassist with t
he family band at age five and at age six was on tour with The Wooten Brot
hers opening shows for legendary soul artist Curtis Mayfield.&nbsp\;

\n

Fast forward a few decades\, and we know Wooten as a five-time Grammy w
inner\, a founding member of the Grammy award-winning band B&eacute\;la Fl
eck and the Flecktones\, the only multiple winner of Bass Player Magazine&
rsquo\;s reader&rsquo\;s poll (3 times)\, voted one of the top ten bassist
s of all time by Rolling Stone\, and the recipient of just about
every award given to a bassist.

\n\n

As well as teaching and inspirin
g people through his books\, camps\, videos\, and workshops\, Victor was h
ired in 2015 by Berklee College of Music as a Performance Scholar in Resid
ence. Now\, as one of the newest faculty members\, Wooten teaches at the s
chool every month and is the co-director of the Victor Wooten/Berklee Summ
er Bass Program\, which runs every summer.

\n\n

The Flying Monkey is
excited to have this premiere musician return to their intimate venue!

Do you ever wonder WHY your students behave the way they do?
Board Certified Behavior Analysts from The Birchtree Center will offer an
overview of the different functions that behavior can serve. You’ll get s
ome tips for identifying the possible roots of your students’ behavior. Yo
u’ll also learn about some effective strategies for addressing behaviors s
erving specific functions. You’ll see how understanding the functions of b
ehavior can allow a student’s team to develop more effective strategies to
reduce those behaviors that interfere with learning. This function-based
approach can be effective for many students–including those with autism.
p>\n\n

Birchtree’s autism experts will offer a 1.5-hour workshop that in
cludes a presentation followed by questions and discussion. The workshop i
s open to all–including educators\, parents\, and guardians–but the worksh
op is designed to be especially useful to para-educators and others who wo
rk one-on-one or in small groups with individuals with autism in school an
d childcare settings. Certificates of attendance are provided.

Join Birchtree’s Occupational Therapist for a 1.5-hour works
hop offering strategies for meeting the sensory needs of students with spe
cial needs such as autism. You’ll learn about the sensory processing chall
enges that many students with autism face. The presentation will also incl
ude time for questions and discussion.

\n\n

The workshop is open to a
ll–including educators\, parents\, and guardians–but the workshop is desig
ned to be especially useful to para-educators and others who work one-on-o
ne or in small groups with individuals with autism in school and childcare
settings. Certificates of attendance are provided.

\n\n

Parents\, gu
ardians\, and caregivers who attend this workshop are also encouraged to a
ttend the Autism Q&A on April 12 to get practical suggestions on how to de
velop their child’s sensory diet based on their child’s sensory needs.

Join the UK&rsquo\;s No.1 jive and swing band\, The Jive Ace
s\, for a spring swing dance party.&nbsp\;A&nbsp\;favorite from the hit TV
talent show &quot\;Britain&rsquo\;s Got Talent\,&quot\; the band is renow
ned for presenting&nbsp\;high-energy\, spectacular swing-music stage shows
. Stretching from the timeless tunes of the&nbsp\;swing era to the glitz o
f the Rat Pack\, the band&rsquo\;s repertoire features a smashing combinat
ion&nbsp\;of songs made famous by such greats as Cab Calloway and Benny Go
odman along with a&nbsp\;selection of superb originals.

\n\n

Please n
ote: This will be a dance concert\, and the expectation is that there will
be people dancing in the first six to eight rows closest to the stage. Ti
cket buyers who wish to sit during the show are advised to purchase ticket
s no closer than row G.

The Governor Wentworth Arts Council presents the 3rd Annual
TABLESCAPES &ldquo\;Creative Settings&rdquo\;&reg\; fundraising tour from
March 23-26 in Wolfeboro.&nbsp\; Admission is only $5 per person\,&nbsp\;
and children under age 8 are free (though they must be accompanied by an a
dult). Proceeds help support the arts in the local schools and libraries.
Enjoy this exhibition of visually stunning\, creative tabletop displays by
artists\, business owners and the community.

Martin Barre has been the guitarist of Jethro Tull for 43 ye
ars\, his sound and playing having been a major factor in their success. A
lbum sales have exceeded 60 million units and they continue to be played w
orldwide\, representing an important part of classic rock history. As Jeth
ro Tull are taking a long break from touring\, Martin has put together a b
and to play the &quot\;classic&quot\; music from the Tull catalogue. His b
and is a total commitment to give the Tull fans and a broader audience the
chance to hear tracks not performed for many years.

April is Autism Awareness Month\, and the perfect time to ju
mp start your health and fitness goals!

\n\n

Here are your steps to p
articipate:

\n\n

Set a personal health/fitness/wellness
goal for the month of April. Will you walk a number of miles\, sp
end a number of hours doing a favorite fitness activity\, eat a number of
healthy meals\, get closer to your target weight\, or do something else he
alth-related? We encourage you to develop a personal goal that is healthy\
, reasonable\, measurable\, and meaningful to you.

\n

Spre
ad the word about your goal to your family and friends. Encourage
them to support your efforts by making a donation to The Birchtree Center
’s Student Support Fund. We’ll provide each participant with a pe
rsonal fundraising web page that makes it easy to get the word out and inv
ite people to donate.

\n

Track your progress thro
ughout the month of April–and have fun doing it! We’ve organized a variety
of fun and healthy gatherings open to all Fitness Challenge participants.

\n

Celebrate your success at our culminating eve
nt on May 27th. The event will feature games\, food\, and an awards ceremo
ny\, with prizes given to the top fundraisers.

\n

All donations
go to the nonprofit Birchtree Center’s Student Support Fund\, wh
ich underwrites essential educational and therapeutic equipment\, supplies
and services for students with autism–as well as admission-free Autis
m Workshops for families living with autism in our community.

Recreating the look\, sound\, pomp and showmanship of arguab
ly the greatest rock band of all time\, One Night of Queen is a spectacula
r live show that is guaranteed to rock you. Gary Mullen and the Works have
been performing such hits as &ldquo\;Bohemian Rhapsody\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;
Somebody to Love\,&rdquo\; &ldquo\;We Are the Champions\,&rdquo\; and &ldq
uo\;Killer Queen&rdquo\; to sold-out audiences throughout the UK\, the USA
\, Europe\, South Africa and New Zealand since 2002.&nbsp\;

\n\n

Support for the 2016/17 season provided in part by Frazier &amp\; Son Furn
iture and Hamblet Electric\, LLC

In honor of National Poetry Month\, Gibson'\;s Book Club
members discuss their favorite poems! Submit your favorite poems in early-
to mid-March\, and they'\;ll be distributed for book clubbers to read
and digest.

\n\n

This book club is free and open to the public\, and
newcomers are encouraged! Join for every month\, or deal yourself in as th
e spirit moves you.

\n\n

All meetings\, unless otherwise noted\, are
on the first Monday of the month and begin at 7 p.m. to give you time to h
ave dinner and relax a bit first. Parking is free in the Capitol Commons g
arage and on the street after 5 p.m.

Founded in 1994 by legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi
Ballet\, Elena Radchenko\, the renowned Russian National Ballet Theatre b
rings to the Colonial Theatre stage one of the most magical and well-known
works from the classical ballet repertoire. Inspired by the German legend
of Odette\, a beautiful princess turned into a swan at the hand of an evi
l sorcerer\, this stunning production features majestic choreography\, an
unforgettable score by Tchaikovsky\, and exquisite costumes and sets.

Come get practical suggestions on how to develop your child’
s sensory diet based on their sensory needs. We’ll start with a brief ten-
minute presentation on sensory processing\, followed by questions and disc
ussion.

\n\n

Attendees are strongly encouraged to also attend the Aut
ism Workshop on March 22nd to learn more about sensory processing.

The Colonial Theatre is pleased to welcome Kathy Griffin to
the stage on April 27. Two-time Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian Kat
hy Griffin is a towering figure on television\, on tour and in publishing.
She breaks through the entertainment clutter with her universally recogni
zed brand of pull-no-punches comedy. Currently\, she can be seen as host o
f the E! hit fashion commentary show &quot\;Fashion Police.&quot\;

\n\n

Last year\, Kathy made history with her sixth consecutive Grammy nomina
tion and first win for Best Comedy Album (&quot\;Kathy Griffin: Calm Down
Gurrl&quot\;)\, joining Whoopi Goldberg and Lily Tomlin as the only other
female comedians to ever win Grammy awards for Best Comedy Album.

\n\n<
p>In 2013\, Kathy was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records for
writing and starring in an unprecedented 20 televised stand-up specials &
mdash\; more than any comedian in history. Buoyed by her dedicated and eng
aged fans\, Kathy'\;s live standup performances are legendary and in a
class of their own. Hundreds of thousands of people have come to see her s
old-out shows everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House.&nbs
p\;\n\n

Kathy also draws a huge audience to CNN'\;s New Year'\
;s Eve special\, which she has co-hosted with Anderson Cooper since 2007.
She is one of television'\;s go-to hosts for premier live events. After
co-hosting the Billboard Music Awards three years in a row\, this year\,
Kathy hosted the 41st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards and AARP'\;s Movies fo
r Grownups Gala.

\n\n

Griffin'\;s sure-fire hosting success led to
her own live late-night talk show\, &quot\;Kathy.&quot\; Known as the sho
w where the biggest celebrities went to have the most fun\, &quot\;Kathy&q
uot\; earned Griffin two Primetime Emmy Awards. Her boisterous and reveali
ng memoir\, &quot\;A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin\,&quot\; debuted at
number one on the New York Times Bestseller List.

At their May meeting\, Gibson'\;s Book Club will read &qu
ot\;KooKooLand&quot\; by Gloria Norris.

\n\n

This book club is free a
nd open to the public\, and newcomers are encouraged. Join for every month
\, or deal yourself in as the spirit moves you.

\n\n

Most of these ti
tles are in paperback\, or should be by the time the club reads them\, and
they will all be discounted 25% from the publisher'\;s price for the f
ollowing year\, whether you join the club for meetings or not.

\n\n

A
ll meetings unless otherwise noted are on the first Monday of the month an
d begin at 7 p.m. to give you time to have dinner and relax a bit first. P
arking is free in the Capitol Commons garage and on the street after 5 p.m
.

Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world and crossing gen
res of classical\, jazz\, and old-fashioned pop\, Pink Martini dates back
to 1994. Bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale founded the group to pro
vide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundra
isers for causes such as civil rights\, affordable housing\, the environme
nt\, libraries\, public broadcasting\, education and parks.

\n\n

Feat
uring a dozen musicians\, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoir
e on concert stages and with symphony orchestras around the world. Pink Ma
rtini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its
orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998 under the direction of N
orman Leyden. Since then\, the band has gone on to play with more than 50
orchestras around the world\, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic\, the
Boston Pops\, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center\, the San Franc
isco Symphony\, the Cleveland Orchestra\, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at
the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Kids Con New England is Sunday\, June 11\, at the Radisson i
n Nashua from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

\n\n

Kids Con New England is the firs
t and only comic book convention just for kids in New England. Kids Con pr
omotes art education and literacy through comics\, with fun activities for
the whole family\, artists\, face painters\, balloonists\, Jedi training\
, play with pirates\, a superheroes meet and greet\, fun games\, costume c
ontests\, coloring and activity tables\, a kids'\; sketch-off\, cartoon
ing lessons\, and more. This is an event you don'\;t want to miss!

\n

Admission is free for kids under age five\, $10 for youth ages five a
nd up\, $12 for adults\, and $10 for military and seniors.

Visit a variety of exquisite gardens at Pontine Theatre&rsqu
o\;s annual New Castle Village Walk and Garden Tour. The self-guided walki
ng tour takes participants on a leisurely stroll through the quaint seasid
e town and into several private gardens\, some on the water&rsquo\;s edge.
Tickets purchased in advance are $20&nbsp\;and may be purchased online at
pontine.org. On the day of the event\, tickets may be purchased for $25&n
bsp\;at the Coast Guard Station in the parking area off Route 1B\, New Cas
tle. &nbsp\;

\n\n

The New Castle Village Walk will take place rain or
shine. All proceeds benefit Pontine Theatre'\;s cultural and education
al programs. This event is underwritten by Piscataqua Landscaping.